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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-06-26 at 17:05
HEADLINES
1. Israel Claims Iran Nuclear Sites Destroyed
2. Hezbollah's Lebanon Infrastructure Hit in Israeli Strikes
3. NYC Election Sparks Fears of Rising Anti-Semitism
The time is now 01:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Today at one in the afternoon, several significant developments have shaped the regional and international landscape.
Israel’s military actions continue to focus on Iran and its proxies, with recent reports confirming that Israeli forces launched targeted strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, claiming to have destroyed key uranium enrichment sites. Israeli officials, including National Security Council Chief Tzachi Hanegbi, affirm that Iran’s nuclear program has been effectively dismantled and that decades of investment and effort by Tehran have been nullified. The United States also echoes this assessment, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserting that American military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites were successful, although some preliminary US intelligence reports suggest that Iran may have removed substantial amounts of enriched uranium prior to the attacks. The international community remains divided, with European intelligence estimating that Iran’s stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium was not present at the targeted site during the strike, whereas US President Donald Trump firmly disputes this, insisting that nothing was removed and emphasizing the success of the operation.
Meanwhile, the broader Middle East situation remains tense. In Lebanon, Hezbollah’s military infrastructure has suffered significant damage, with reports indicating that a Hezbollah building in southern Lebanon was destroyed earlier today, likely as part of ongoing Israeli operations against militant targets. The Lebanese armed group’s leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, has declared that the Houthis’ blockade of the Red Sea remains in effect, complicating maritime navigation and regional stability. Additionally, Israeli forces have conducted defensive operations in northern Gaza, targeting militant positions amid ongoing clashes, while in Gaza city, intense Israeli airstrikes continue, causing widespread destruction and casualties.
In the Gaza Strip, the situation remains dire, with Israel reporting that it is engaged in a sustained campaign against Hamas targets, especially in Jabaliya and Gaza city. Reports indicate that these strikes are part of Operation Rising Lion, aimed at degrading Hamas’s military capabilities. The ongoing conflict has kept the region volatile, with continued rocket and drone attacks from Houthi militants in Yemen targeting southern Saudi Arabia, further complicating the regional security picture.
On the diplomatic front, discussions around normalization agreements are resurging. The United States appears to be pushing for the expansion of the Abraham Accords, with efforts to include additional Arab nations. However, a recent controversial billboard showing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad alongside former US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked outrage across the Arab world, with many viewing it as a provocative move that could hinder regional cohesion.
In domestic Israeli politics, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a postponement of his upcoming corruption trial testimony, citing ongoing regional and security concerns, including the recent conflict with Iran and the hostages held in Gaza. US President Donald Trump has publicly urged the Israeli court to cancel the proceedings, framing the case as a “witch hunt” and expressing strong support for Netanyahu. The political controversy continues to unfold as Netanyahu’s legal challenges intersect with the security crisis, with opposition leaders warning against foreign interference in Israel’s judicial processes.
In the United States,
Published on 2 weeks ago